2008 Skoda Fabia — MOT failures & pass rate
77,434 MOT tests on the 2008 Skoda Fabia are in this dataset, and 72.6% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 27.0%, so the 2008 Fabia sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and suspension (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 5,737 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.8% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (29.5% vs 25.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 12,108 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 10,225 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 7,346 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 5,924 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 4,249 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 3,614 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 5,737 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 4,333 |
| 3 | Joints | 3,789 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 3,670 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 2,767 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,669 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.3% | 21,889 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.6% | 21,342 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.3% | 16,535 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 10,405 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.4% | 9,644 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 7,536 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,562 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 10,966 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 22,531 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 22,385 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 12,893 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 7,054 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 45,865 | 25.9% |
| Diesel | 31,569 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,549 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 16,634 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 15,855 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 14,564 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 12,832 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Fabia
On a 2008 Fabia, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Skoda Fabias pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 77,434 2008 Skoda Fabia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Skoda Fabia?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2008 Fabia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,434 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.